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     At FFlocks we believe a balanced diet is essential to the health of any animal. We understand that a seed diet is not a complete diet. Even when you can get your bird to eat a variety of other foods, such as fruit, vegetables (raw), pastas, etc, the bird may still be lacking something. The more variety that you can get your bird to eat the better for the birds overall health. With this in mind you may think that you do not have to supplement your birds diet with vitamins and minerals, not necessarily true. There are still many vitamins and minerals that may be missing from all the variety of foods that you feed. Vitamin D3 and K are good examples of this. Both of these are produced through a photosynthetic reaction within the body when the body is exposed to ultraviolet light. Indoor birds do not receive the same ultraviolet levels as outdoor birds and may not be able to produce these vitamins. Vitamin K is required to clot blood. Vitamin D3 is required for the absorption of calcium. To illustrate the importance of Vitamin D3, take a look at the jug of milk in your fridge, you will find that it has been fortified with vitamin D3 as we need the supplementation as well.
     Mineral supplementation is another point that should be considered. Most people think that the cuttlebone or oyster shell that they provide is enough for their bird. Unfortunately, the cuttlebone and oyster shell, while both are good sources of calcium, they are both deficient in most other minerals that the bird needs. Some of these minerals are available in dark green vegetables, but not all of the minerals are there, nor are they well balanced. By supplementing with a good mineral supplement you are ensuring that your bird does receive all of the trace minerals that they require. Iodine is something that most birds, budgies and cockatiels in particular, are lacking in their diet. The body to maintain a healthy thyroid uses iodine. Without iodine supplementation the thyroid may stop functioning properly, leading to a wide range of medical problems. A good mineral supplement contains iodine. Note, even with regular supplementation, there is always the chance that a bird may suffer from a thyroid problem that will require a Veterinary attention. By supplying iodine in the minerals, you are reducing the risk. We also require iodine supplementation, take a look at the next box of table salt that you buy, you will find that it has been "iodized" for you.
     Since vitamins and minerals are two different things and the fact that they work together, you do need both to complete a balanced and healthy diet for you bird.

     FFlocks carries Feathered Friends vitamins and minerals. Feathered Friends brings in these supplements from a company that has specialized in researching the nutritional needs of birds for over 75 years. Earl and Rob Ham have used these supplements for over forty years, with great success. Earl had two cockatiels, who would only eat the Budgie/Cockatiel Mix and were supplemented with Aqua-Vite^TM and Complete Mineral Supplement^TM, that lived to the ripe old ages of 33 years for Cocky, the male, and 35 years for Corky, the female.

Vitamins

To see a larger image, the list of ingredients, directions and the guaranteed analysis, click on the image.

Feathered Friends Vitamin Supplements

AQUA-VITE^TM

Aqua-ViteTM is a powder vitamin that is more stable than Vita-DropsTM, but it is also more concentrated. Aqua-ViteTM is best for the person who is making up large quantities of water for their birds. Click on the image to see the directions for Aqua-ViteTM. Aqua-ViteTM has a shelf life of 2-3 years, as long as it is kept in a dark cool place. Aqua-ViteTM is also suitable for all small animals.

Mineral Supplements

To see a larger image, the list of ingredients, directions and the guaranteed analysis, click on the image.

Feathered Friends Mineral Supplements

COMPLETE MINERAL SUPPLEMENT^TM

Complete Mineral SupplementTM is a granulated for easy feeding to most types of small birds. Complete Mineral SupplementTM contains an excellent variety of trace minerals for birds, including and selenium and iodine. The importance of iodine is explained above.

CALCIUM LACTATE

Calcium Lactate is a water soluble calcium supplement. A superb calcium supplement for birds, animals and reptiles. Use Calcium Lactate during breeding and as recommended by a Veterinarian. The calcium is very important to egg laying hens, especially zebra finches and cockatiels that are such proficient egg layers. Calcium Lactate is perfect for reptiles and other animals (such as Sugar Gliders) that require additional calcium in their diet.

Other Mineral Sources

HAGEN
     We have a variety of Hagen Beak Block available. The Beak Blocks are a good source of the basic minerals, but they are lacking some, including iodine.

CUTTLEBONE
     Cuttlebone is still a favorite for the birds. It is a good source of calcium, which is very important for an egg-laying hen. It is also a great chew toy for parrots.

OYSTER SHELL
     Oyster shell is a good source of calcium, which is very important for an egg-laying hen.

Gravel

To see a larger image of the gravel, click on the image.

     There has been a lot of debate as to whether birds should have gravel or not. We feel that all seed eating birds do require some gravel in their diet.
     Gravel is an essential part of a seed eating birds digestion. Seed eating birds first hull the seed and swallows the kernel, with the exception of dove and pigeons, they swallow the seed whole. The seed then goes into the crop. The crop is an elastic pouch at the base of the birds neck which enables it to eat large amounts of food very quickly before is slowly works its way though the rest of the digestive system. The seed then passes into the proventriculus, where the stomach acid start to soften up the seed, then the softened seed passes into the gizzard. The gizzard is made up of very powerful muscles with a thick horny lining. The gizzard then grinds up the seed, with the aid of the gravel, then it passes into the duodenum where the digestive enzymes continue the digestive chores. Without the gravel in the gizzard the gizzard muscles can become quite enlarged and loose the elasticity that is required to grind up the seed. Most seed eating birds only require a few grains of gravel, once or twice a week.
     We have even heard that some Veterinarians are recommending that you don't use gravel with your bird. This apparently stems from the fact that they have seen birds that have gorged themselves on the gravel to the point that they have blocked up their digestive system. Unfortunately they have only seen a small percentage of their clientele in this condition and all of them were sick with another problem. just as a dog with an upset stomach will try to eat grass, a sick bird may try to solve its ills by eating gravel (or mineral block or cuttlebone, or oyster shell or etc). This is a natural reaction by most animals. We have never (in 40 years) seen a healthy bird gorge itself on gravel.
     We recommend that gravel be given to most small birds, free choice. It is best to use a small dish with only the bottom of the dish covered in gravel, this way you can keep an eye on how much is being consumed. Usually very little is actually eaten, the rest will be tossed around in play. For the larger birds we recommend sprinkling a few grains on their seed, once or twice a week. If you ever see your bird gorging itself on gravel, mineral blocks, beak blocks, cuttlebone, oyster shell, minerals, charcoal, walnut shell (if you use it on the bottom of your cage) or anything else along these lines, you should get your bird checked by a Veterinarian. This is to make sure there isn't something going on that you can't see, as you bird may be trying to cure itself.

Feathered Friends Gravel

BUDGIE/COCKATIEL GRIT

Budgie/Cockatiel Grit is for all hookbills, from budgies to macaws. Also suitable for doves and pigeons. Feathered Friends gravel is comprised of granite grit. While granite is still very hard and works effectively in the gizzard, it is not as sharp as quartz. The white grit that you sometimes see available is quartz. Quartz, when crushed, produces very sharp edges that could scratch and scar the bird's digestive system.

CANARY/FINCH GRIT

Canary/Finch Grit is for canaries and all small and medium finches. Feathered Friends gravel is comprised of granite grit. While granite is still very hard and works effectively in the gizzard, it is not as sharp as quartz. The white grit that you sometimes see available is quartz. Quartz, when crushed, produces very sharp edges that could scratch and scar the bird's digestive system.

Bee Pollen

To see a larger image and the feeding directions, click on the image.

Feathered Friends Bee Pollen

BEE POLLEN

Bee Pollen contains all known vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Bee Pollen is an excellent conditioner and a wonderful additive to a bird's diet when they are molting. Since the building blocks of the feathers are amino acids, supplementing them with Bee Pollen while they are molting makes a lot of sense. Bee Pollen can also be added to hand-feeding diets, egg-foods, softbill diets, etc. Feathered Friends Bee Pollen has been ground extra fine for easier feeding.